Lighter



MalCh 4, 1952 E. G. GESSMANN LIGHTER 2 SHEETS SHEET l Filed Dec. 3, 1949 INVENTOR. fMU/V G GSSM/l Arr-@RNE Y March 4, 1952 E. G. GEssMANN LIGHTER 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2;

Filed DeC. 3, 1949 JNVENTOR. EMU/V GE55M/M/N Y www ATTRNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1952 LIGHTER Edmund` G.A Gessmann, Woodside,` N., Y., assigner to L. Batlin & Son, Inc., New York, N. Y., a,

corporation of-'Neyv yYork Application December 3, 1949, Serial No. 130,947i

8 Claims. (CL' (iT- 7.1)

-' This: invention relates generally to cigar and cigarette lighters, and, more particularly to such lighters of the flint wuheelV spark producing type` An4 object of this invention isetorprovide a cigarorcigarette lighter, having separate` snuffel' and outer cover members, and in whichv the7 cover member. is initially moved to open position, and then the snuferispivoted touncover thewick.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a cigarI or cigarette` lighter having igniting means Operable with thesnuffer, when; the latteris` pivotedtc wick-uncovering position, a covering mem. ber l engageable, when closed, overall or the work-V ing parts ofthe lighter, and` operating means for initially openingthe cover; and then plfotngthe-Y Srlulerto wick uncovering position.

^ Ag further` object of this inventionis to provide a cigar'or cigarettelighter'having: a snuiier engageable over the wick, and pivotablewupwardly to uncover the wick and to operate a sparkpro-v i ducing; means, a cover` member engageable over all of the working Darts of the lighter; and annger piece connected to operating, mechanism for ini--- tially opening the coverV member, upon movement of the linger piece, and then pivoting thesnuffer and operating the spark producing means;y upon further movement of.l the 'lingerl piece.

f Stillv another object of this-inventionisto pro-k videa-cigar or cigarette lighterv having a separate; snuiier which operates" the sparkproducing;

means, anda cover` member, and opera-ting means,v for automatically; sequencing the openingof the cover and the operation:` of the snuffer and spark producing means.

Finally, it is an` object o-f this, invention; to produce a cigar or-cigarette1iglutenhaving;automatic oovenfsnuffen and igniter operating means; of: simple` construction,` andi having: reliable and eili-` cient` operating characteristics.

With the foregoingv and other objects in view which willI appear as the description proceeds, the invention` resides in the combination. and a1-` rangementof` parts-` and inI the` details. of con-y struction hereinafter described` and claimed, it` being' understood that various4 changes and. modifV ca'tions Amay-.te- -reslorted to .without departing, from'. the spirit or scope of the invention; as de-` finedA in. vthe claims, and without sacrificing the advantages thereof.V 1

In the drawings :V

Figure 1 is a side, elevational view of acigar or cigarette, lighter constructed according to an em- -loodimentor my inveritorl,l

ure gjisavertioal sectional view falten.sul@f-Y S'Eeeiellr 'itt-ere..,..,ils.essere @slight-gilets trated in Figure 1, with the lighter in inoperative position, and shown o n an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the lighter illus trated inV Figure 2, with the cover opened, butv before firing position,`

Figure 4 is aview similar to that oi Figure` 3, but in operative position, with the Wick being ignited,

Figure 5 is an enlarged top view of the lighter unit shown in Figure 2, with the housing removed,`

Figure` 6 is a perspective view of the-.operating handle or lever,

Eigure'l is a perspective view of the combined. cover and snuffer operating member,

Figure 8 is a side view of the firing wheel, l

Figure 9 isa perspective view of the ringlw-heel' operating dog, the snuier, and the :arm uponwhich these members are mounted,

Figure 10,is a perspective View of the mpvable cover.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar referencenumerals designate corresponding parts, a-v lighter constructed according to this` invention, is generally indicated by the numeral l5. "I he lighter l5 includes a flat sided outer housing I6 open at theV top end thereof; and formed with a bottom wall ia spaced upwardly from the bottom edge thereof. An outwardly extending flange` 65- is formed upon the bottom edge of the housing t6, and a soft, anti-scratchy cover or pad 66, which, may be formed of felt` or the like, is secured cement or other suitable means to the bottom surface ofthe flange E5. The outer housingmay be formed of metal or other similar materiall of suitable durability, and, may be,v plated as with chromium, or some. other suitable ornamental" coating.l

A lighter unit, generally indicated; lby thev numeral Il, includes a fuel chamber forming housing i9, engageable within the outer housing I 6. The inner housing or casing I9 includes a top wall Hb,- and an outwardly extending ange I `1aaligned with the top wall and engageable upon the top` edge ofY the outer housing ltolimit the dQWIlWard'jrnovement ofj the inner housing I Brelative to the outer housing I'B. As seen in Figure 2l the bottom wall 25' of the inner housing I9 is, spaced upwardly relative to the bottom. wall` Iliaof thel outer housing. A vertically extendingI groove 26 is formed in one end of the inner housing` le and is open at the upper andl lower ends thereof. A fixed cover member 35 extends up-r` Hardin-from; the top of the inner housing I9 and4 is disposed suhstantallymidway across the` ton 25 and extends upwardly through the top wall Ilb. The tube is secured to the top and bottom wall of the inner housing by soldering, or

similar fastening means, at the points where the opposite ends of the tubes intersect the respective walls. A wick member 2l is disposed within the inner housing i9 and has one end thereof eX tending through the top wall 11b.

A pivot pin 39 is carried by the opposite side wall of the xed cover member 35, above the top wall |112 and substantially in the middle thereof.

A firing wheel 4I, havingna roughened peripheraledge, is rotatably mounted upon the pivot member Y39. A pyrophoric element 26h is slidably disposed within the tube 20, and is urged upwardly into contact with the edge 0f the firing wheel 4|.by means of the spring 20a disposed within the tube. A screw member 22 is threaded into the bottom end of the tube 26 and abuts against the bottom end of the spring 28 to provide a means for adjusting the compression of z the spring and hence the intimacy of the Vcontactbetween the pyrophoric element 26h and the firing wheel. A combined ring wheel operating arm and snuffer carrier 42 is rockably mounted upon the pin 39 which passes through the opening 53d formed therein. The spring member 50 is coiled about the pivot and has one end thereof secured toV the V.pivot by engagement within the hole 56 formed therein, and the other end connected to the arm 42 by engagement within the opening 55 formed in the latter. The spring 50 will then be effective to constantly urge the lever 42 away from the top wall I1b of the inner housing. A horizontally directed flange 43 is formed upon the outer portion of the top edge ofl the arm 42 and includes an extension 44 to the underside of which the inverted cup shaped snuifer 44a is secured.

The ratchet wheel 4la is secured to the side face ofthe ring wheel 4I and is rotatable with the latter. A pawl 58 is rookably carried by the outer end of the pawl pin secured to the rockable arm 42, and is constantly urged against the surface of the ratchet Wheel 4m by the spring member 58a. The pawl 58 is then effective to rotate the ratchet wheel 4Ia. and the firing wheel 4|, when the arm 42 is pivoted upwardly by the spring 56. The latch 46 is rockably carried upon the end of the bracket 48 secured to the upper end of the tube 2D, and is constantly urged by the spring 49 into contact with the catch 45 struck out of the side surface of the snuffer 44. The latch 46 is then effective to prevent upward swinging of the arm 42 and the snufer 44'.

'A movable cover member 40 is pivotally mounted upon the opposite ends of the pivot pin 39. and when closed is engageabe over the arm 42, the snuffer assembly, and the spark producing means. A rack wheel, or gear' segment, 38 is xedly mounted to the inner face of one of the side walls of the movable cover 40, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. An operating member 36, shown in detail in Figure 7, consists of a plate slidable along the top wall |112 of the inner housing I9. A gear rack 3-1 is formed along an 01T- end of the coil spring 30.

set side edge of the member 36, and meshes with the gear segment 38 fixed to the movable cover 46. A linger 41 extends from one end of the member 36, and is provided` with a cutout 59 to accommodate the upper end of the tube The end of the member 36, removed from the nger 41, is provided with a longitudinal opening 36a, which extendsl over the top end of the groove 26 formed in the end wall of the inner housing. The operating lever 21 is loosely disposed within the groove 26 and has the lower end rockably mounted upon the pin 28, which extends through the opposite side walls of the groove. A pair of notches are cut into the inner edge of the lever 21 in order to form the spring holder 3l which engages one I'he other end of the spring engages within the recess 32 formed in the inner housing wall, so that thespring 30 constantly urges the lever-21 outwardly, orA away from the housing. A stop member 34Vvis formed upon the upper end of the lever 21 and abuts against the lower edge of ,the fixed cover member 35, in order to limit the outward swinging of the lever 1.V A nger piece, or finger-` rest, 29 extends outwardly from the upper portion-of the outeredge of the lever 21, and projects through the upwardly opening slot 6l formed in the outer housing I6. A notch 33 is cut into the top edge of the lever 21, and the portion of the top end inwardly of the notch projects loosely into 'the elongated opening 36e of the member 36 to provide a connection between the lever 21'and the member 36. The nger 41 oftheV member36 is of such length that contact between the'end 66 of the finger and the bottom portionof the latch member 46 is not eiectedl until the lever 21 has been pivoted inwardly' an extensive degree.

The operation of the lighter described above is as follows:

` Initial movement of the lever 21, effected by pressure exerted upon the finger piece Y29, will effect immediate opening of removable cover V4I), by reason of the meshing of the movable rack 31 formed on the member 36 with the rack wheel 38 secured tothe movable cover. This initial position is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. Further movement of the lever 21 in to the groove 26, will effect the extreme movement of the memberl 36 across the top |1b of the'inner housing, and will iinally result in contact between the end 60 of the nger 41 and the lower end of the latch 46. This contact will effect the rocking of the latch 46, kwhich will thereby be disengaged fromv the catch formed upon the snufer. When the latch is so disengaged, the arm 42 will be free to pivot upwardly in response to the force exerted by the spring 50. YSuch :up-v

ward pivoting of the arm 42`will result'i'n'the uncovering of the wick 2|; and through the pawl 58 carried by the arm 42, and the ratchet Vwheel Ma mounted upon the firing wheel, will also eiTect rotation of the firing wheel 4I in contacty with the pyrophoric element 26h to thereby produce l'a vspark for the ignitionA of the f uel burning wick. Whenthe finger piece 29" 'isreleased, the end `ofthe `linger 41 will imme- 'v diately be moved out of contact with the latchj 46, the spring 30 operating upon the lever 21 will cause the member 36 to be moved towards the end of the housing formed with the groove 26 therein. This movement of the member 36 will result in downward pivoting of the movable cover *member 40. which Willact uponI the top` "surface of theiange 43 formed upon the arm" 'sition, la rockable latch carried by means movable relative to said housing and asentar wards the top viiali Nb; "When the; `snliffer *uit has closed upon the' topi end or thewielc 21,; for

extinguishing the name, the `latch i willonce, gli;

again engage upon the catch 45'1fo'r maintain, lng theY arm Uindepressed position.

Having thus :described a preferred embodisA mentolfm'y inventionyitwi-lll beunderstood that g; the-specificembodimentfdescrihed ils` merely al illustrative of the appl-icationI of the` invention and not restrictive, referencel being hadto. the appended claims rather than the foregoing de scrip-tion toindipate the scope of the invention. v What I claim, is: is

l. A lighterfcom-prising a housing, a fuel burn- Y ing Wick extending'above the topv wall of said housing, a `similiar pivoted above-said" top wall" andA engageable over said wick, spring meansV biasing sai'dfsnuiier'tof wick uncovering position, [2d a latch engaeeable withv Saidsnuffer and adapt- 1 l ed to retain the latter in wick' covering position, L igniter means connected. to .said snuiler` and o perable when the latter is pivoted towards. WickY f uncovering position, a pivoted-cover mounted above said housing and uengageable over said `snuff'erv and. said igniter means,v .and operating means operatively associated with said cover and said latch and' adapted toV initially pivot said cover to open position and. then. actuate saidll latch to release said snuffer for pivoting of the latter to.l wick uncovering -position and conse-ff quentoperation` of saidigniter means, and spring means-cooperating said operating: means for moving the latter in an opposite di-"ii rection and thereby return said cover and there-1r`4 with said snuffer to closed position.

2. A lighter comprising a housing, a fuel burning wick extending above the top wall of said housing, a snuiler engageable over said wick and" 40 Mspring pressed to wick uncovering position, latch means retaining said snufier in wick covering-f position, a firing wheel rotatably mounted above".Z

said top wall, a pyrophoric element contacting,...` said wheel, clutch means connecting said snuf-' 2,5 fer to said wheel whereby the latter is rotated during movement of the snuffer to wick uncovj ering position, a cover pivoted above said top' wall and engageable over said wheel and said snuffer and operating means operatively asso ciated with said cover and said latch means an adapted to initially open said cover and then ac-v tuate said latch means to release said snufferf: to uncover said wick and rotate said firing vvlleel1` and spring means cooperating with said operatL ing means for moving the latter in an opposite direction and thereby return said cover and, g1 therewith said snuffer to closed position.

3. A lighter comprising a'housing, Aa fuel burn? ing wick in said housing and having an end'co thereof extending through the housing top wall,

a snuffer arm rockably carried by said top wall* and having a snuffer engageable over said wicln4 end when in depressed position, spring mean constantly urging said snuffer arm to raised po'.- c.,

said top wal and adapted to engage said snuffer for retai ing the latter in depressed position, a tiring wheel, clutch means carried by said snuil'er arm"f and said wheel adapted to rotate said Wheel dur, z' To ing the raising of said arm, a pyrophoric element',r mounted in contact with said ring wheel, af cover pivoted upon 4said housing and engageable over said snuier and said wheel, and-'operating adaptedl to initieliyrochf said.` eimerV to. onen pas sinon and' then to roclr said: retention releasing;

` saidf stru-nier arm tot permit raising: ot the;

andi rotation of said firing. wheel for` producing al spark: te ignite said wicls, endearing means cooperating with.` said operatingmeans for ing the latter in an opposite direction. and2 by return. saidl cover anda therewith said. snuller toA closed position.

4.1, A-lighter comprisingA a housing.; arnet burns;

ingA wick extending from theftop wallet housing a snuiery assembly` pivoted upon.` said;

top-wall and eng-ageahieV over said wick. inlthei` closed. position thereof, spring means biasingl said` snuffel'V assembly tof raised wick; uncovered.

sition. a. tiring wheat rotatably mounted upon;

said topf Walk. a` pyrophoric elementxcontacting: said firing wheel and. mounted-adjacent tof said wick, clutch means: connecting saida srrufifeir assA senilily4 to said :tiringwheel` wher-'shy thejlatter is rotated during.' raising or" said snuffer Vasseritlily'` latch means `roclvably" mounted on; saldi. ton wall. andi engageabl'g, with. saidv shutter"assembly` for hol-ding'theylatter in .the closedipl'isition,`I a vcoverpivoted on. the. top. of saidr housing: engageable: over said: firing: wheel andi' said; snuff-er assembly,` and; operatingu means: engager-1- able vvitlfil said' cover and? with said: laten and adapted, when moved relativev to: said-i housing. toeinitially rock3 said cover tozopen. positionrand` then'to release said latchy whereby said soutienv assemblyis, raised` to@ uncover said wiclr and said: firingJ wheel is rotated toJ produce an igniting spark, and` spring' means cooperating" `with` said: operating means for moving the latter in an opposite direction and thereby return said cover and therewith said snuifer to closed position.

5. A lighter comprising a housing, a fuel burning wick extending through the top wall of said housing, a pivot member disposed above said top wall, a snuffer arm rockably mounted upon said pivot member and having a snuifer thereon engageable over said wick, spring means connected to said arm and biasing the latter to raised wick uncovering position, a latch rockably carried above said top wall and spring pressed towards said snuiier for retaining the latter in position over said wick, a firing Wheel rotatable upon said pivot member, clutch means upon said snuier arm and said wheel adapted to rotate the latter when said arm is raised, a pyrophoric element mounted in contact with said wheel for producing a wick igniting spark when said wheel is rotated. a cover member pivoted on said pivot member and engageable over said wheel andsnuffer, a gear segment xed to the interior of said cove'rmember, operating means for said cover member and said snuiler arm including a slidable elongated plate disposed upon said top wall, a gear rack on said plate mesh` ing with said gear segment, a nger extending from said plate engageable with said latch after substantial movement of said plate relative to said housing, and actuating means connected to said plate for moving the latter across said top wall to thereby initiallyopen said cover member and subsequently rock'- said latch to release said snuffer to permit 'raising of the latter and rotation of said firing wheel.

6. A lighter as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing is formed with an outwardly opening vertical groove in one end thereof, and said x actuating means includes a levery loosely disposed 'within 'said groove and having oneI end .pivoted to said housing. 'theother end of said` lever .prn

jecting above said top wall and engaging through an opening formed in said plate, a spring interposed between said housing and said lever constantly urging said plate to cover closing and latch disengaging position, and a finger rest formed on said lever and extending out of said grove. l

'7. A lighter comprising a housing, a fuel burn ing wick extending from the top wall of said housing, a snur'fer assembly pivoted upon said top wall and engageable Vover said wick in the closed position i thereof, spring means biasing said snuffer assembly to raised wick uncovered position, a'iirin'gwheel rotatably mounted upon said top wall, a pyrophorie element contacting said firing wheel'and mounted adjacent to said wick, clutch Vmeans connecting said `snuifer assembly to said'ring wheel whereby thelatter is rotated during'Y` raising. of said snuieryassembly', latch means rockably mbunted on said top wall'and engageable with said snuffer assembly for holding the' latterin the'closed position.' a-cover pivoted on the topl of said housing and engageable over said ring'wheel and. said snuffer assembly, and operating means engageable with said cover and with said latch and adapted, when moved relative to said housing, to initially rock said cover to open position and then to release said latch whereby said snuier assembly is raised to uncover. said Wick and said firing wheel is rotated to produce an igniting spark, said operating meansincluding' afsli'dable member, a gear segmentmounted on said cover, avgear rack on said slidable member'meshing with said gear segment;

and a ngerextending from said slidable mem ber normally spaced from said latch and engageable with the latter after substantial movement of said slidable member, and actuating means engaging lsaid slidable member and adapted to move the latter. y 8. A lighter as set forth in claim 7 wherein said actuatingrmeans includes a lever pivotally connected at'one end thereof to said housing, anV upstanding lug formed on the opposite end of said lever loosely engaging within a slot formed in said slidable member, spring means interposed betweenA saidv lever and said housing adapted to urge said lever and said slidable member to cover closing and latch disengaging position, and a finger rest formed adjacent said opposite end of said lever` for moving said lever and said slidable member against the force of -said latter `spring means y .y

EDMUND @Guss/MANN. -g

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the' ille of this patent: 'f

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 2,194,844 Bolle 1 Mar. 26, 1940 2,498,537 F1or1nan- .v- Feb. 21, 1950 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number vCountry Date 65,121 Austria June 10, 1-914 3 590,632

Great Britain July 23, 1947 

